The Director of the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources Nate Ilaoa believes American Samoa should have the authority to decide who can fish around the Rose Atoll Monument.
He explains that with the existing federal closure, while cultural take is allowed near Rose Atoll, local alia fishermen are required to obtain federal permits and provide detailed catch logs for every trip, something the average fishermen can’t meet.
A group of matai from Manu’a is against a proposal to allow commercial fishing within 12 miles of Rose Atoll.
Ilaoa says what DMWR is fighting for is to allow American Samoa to make its own decisions on who could fish near Rose Atoll Monument.
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